Apparatus, method, and system for improving bandwidth of a plug and a corresponding receptacle

ABSTRACT

Described herein is an apparatus for improving bandwidth of a transceiver system e.g., a Universal Serial Bus (USB) micro-B connector. The apparatus comprises a first pair of lens units, each lens unit of the pair positioned on either side of an input-output (I/O) bus interface, the pair of lens units to send and receive optical signals respectively; a first housing to shield the first pair of lens units and for physically coupling the I/O bus interface and the first pair of lens units to a receptacle; and a key to grasp the first housing and to lock the first housing with the receptacle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to the field of optics.More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to an apparatus,method, and system for improving bandwidth of a plug and a correspondingreceptacle.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE/PERMISSION

Portions of the disclosure of this patent document may contain materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the reproduction by anyone of the patent document or thepatent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Officepatent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rightswhatsoever. The copyright notice applies to all data as described below,and in the accompanying drawings hereto, as well as to any softwaredescribed below: Copyright© 2010, Intel Corporation, All RightsReserved.

BACKGROUND

Current computer platform architecture design encompasses many differentinterfaces to connect one device to another device. The interfacesprovide I/O (input/output) for computing devices and peripherals, andmay use a variety of protocols and standards to provide the I/O. Thediffering interfaces may also use different hardware structures toprovide the interface. For example, current computer systems typicallyinclude multiple ports with corresponding connection interfaces, asimplemented by physical connectors and plugs at the ends of the cablesconnecting the devices. Common connector types may include a UniversalSerial Bus (USB) subsystem with a number of associated USB pluginterfaces, DisplayPort, High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI),Firewire (as set forth in IEEE 1394), or other connector type.

USB2 and USB3 are common I/O interfaces used to send and receive databetween computer systems. These interfaces are also implemented togetheras USB micro-B connectors as specified by the Universal Serial Bus 3.0Specification, Revision 1.0 Nov. 12, 2008. However, the USB micro-Bconnector does not have the bandwidth capacity of other interfaces(e.g., optical interfaces).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will be understood more fully from thedetailed description given below and from the accompanying drawings ofvarious embodiments of the invention, which, however, should not betaken to limit the invention to the specific embodiments, but are forexplanation and understanding only.

FIG. 1A illustrates a computer system having a plug and a receptaclewith an optical link, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1B illustrates a front view of the plug, according to oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1C illustrates a cross-section of a hybrid cable of the plug,according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1D illustrates a zoomed version of the plug with a lens to send orreceive optical signals, according to one embodiment of the invention

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the plug with a key, according to oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates the hybrid cable with electrical and opticaltransmission lines, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates components of a receptacle to receive the plug,according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5A illustrates an optical transceiver of the receptacle, accordingto one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5B illustrates a view of a lens body of the optical transceiverwith an outside view of a reflection mechanism, according to oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5C illustrates components of the optical transceiver of thereceptacle, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a high level flowchart of making the plug and the receptacle,according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention relate to an apparatus, method, and systemfor improving bandwidth of a plug and a corresponding receptacle.

In one embodiment, the plug and the receptacle are a Universal SerialBus (USB) 2 plug and receptacle which are physically modified to includean optical interface so that the plug and the receptacle are backwardcompatible with a USB2 input-output (I/O) interface while providing anadditional interface for higher bandwidth via the optical interface. Inanother embodiment, the plug and the receptacle include USB2 and USB3I/O interfaces, wherein the USB2 I/O interface is modified to include anoptical interface so that the plug and the corresponding receptacle isbackward compatible with USB2 and USB3 I/O interfaces while providing anadditional optical interface for higher bandwidth.

In one embodiment, the plug and the receptacle are a USB micro-B plugand receptacle which includes a USB2 and a USB3 I/O interface in asingle connector, wherein the USB micro-B connector plug and receptacleare modified to include an optical interface to provide an additionalinterface for higher bandwidth.

In the following description, numerous details are discussed to providea more thorough explanation of embodiments of the present invention. Itwill be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that embodimentsof the present invention may be practiced without these specificdetails. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shownin block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoidobscuring embodiments of the present invention.

Note that in the corresponding drawings of the embodiments signals arerepresented with lines. Some lines may be thicker, to indicate moreconstituent signal paths, and/or have arrows at one or more ends, toindicate primary information flow direction. Such indications are notintended to be limiting. Rather, the lines are used in connection withone or more exemplary embodiments to facilitate easier understanding ofa circuit or a logical unit. Any represented signal, as dictated bydesign needs or preferences, may actually comprise one or more signalsthat may travel in either direction and may be implemented with anysuitable type of signal scheme, e. g., differential pair, single-ended,etc.

FIG. 1A illustrates a computer system 100 having a plug 110 and acorresponding receptacle 103 with an optical link, according to oneembodiment of the invention. In one embodiment, the plug 110 and thereceptacle 103 are a USB2 plug and receptacle which are physicallymodified to include an optical interface so that the plug 110 and thereceptacle 103 are backward compatible with a USB2 I/O interface whileproviding an additional interface for higher bandwidth via the opticalinterface. In another embodiment, the plug 110 and the receptacle 103include USB2 and USB3 I/O interfaces, wherein the USB2 I/O interface ismodified to include an optical interface so that the plug 110 and thecorresponding receptacle 103 is backward compatible with USB2 and USB3I/O interfaces while providing an additional optical interface forhigher bandwidth.

In one embodiment, the plug 110 and the corresponding receptacle 103 area USB micro-B plug and receptacle which includes a USB2 and a USB3 I/Ointerface in a single connector, wherein the USB micro-B connector plugand receptacle are modified to include an optical interface to providean additional interface for higher bandwidth.

In one embodiment, the plug 110 is operable to communicatively couple aperipheral device 104 to a device 101 via the receptacle 103. In oneembodiment, the peripheral device 104 is any computing device such as aflash drive, an MP3 player, etc.

In one embodiment, the peripheral device 104 is coupled to the plug 110via a hybrid cable 117 that is configured to carry electrical andoptical transmission lines. In one embodiment, the electricaltransmission lines include wires that meet the specificationrequirements of the USB2 and/or USB3 I/O interfaces. In one embodiment,the optical transmission lines include optic fibers for sending andreceiving high bandwidth data between the peripheral device 104 and thedevice 101. The term “high bandwidth data” refers to data transfer ratesabove 2 GHz/Mb.

In one embodiment, the device 101 is operable to receive the plug 110via the receptacle 103. In one embodiment, the device 101 includes aprocessor 102 which is operable to process electrical signals 105 andoptical signals 106 received by the receptacle 103. In one embodiment,the processor 102 is an Atom® processor by Intel Corp. In otherembodiments, other processors may be used without changing the essenceof the embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1B illustrates a front view of the plug 110, according to oneembodiment of the invention. In one embodiment, the plug 110 comprises apair of lens units 111, wherein each lens unit of the pair 111 ispositioned on either side of an I/O bus interface 115. In oneembodiment, the I/O interface 115 is a USB2 I/O interface and the lensunits are positioned so that the I/O interface 115 remains compatiblewith USB2 I/O interface specifications while providing an additionaloptical interface for high bandwidth data transfers. In one embodiment,the I/O interface is a USB2 I/O interface of the USB micro-B pluginterface. In one embodiment, each lens unit of the pair 111 includes alens to receive and/or transmit optical signals. The structure of thelens unit is discussed later with reference to 130 of FIG. 1C.

Referring back to FIG. 1B, in one embodiment each lens unit of the pair111 along with the I/O interface 115 is housed by a shield 113 which isconfigured to protect the lens units of the pair 111 and to also guidethe plug 110 to engage with the corresponding receptacle 103. In oneembodiment, the shield 113 also houses an additional I/O interface 116.In one embodiment, the additional I/O interface 116 is a USB3 I/Ointerface. In one embodiment, the shield 113 houses the USB micro-Bconnector interface along with the lens units of the pair of lens units111. In one embodiment, the shield 113 is composed of stainless steel.

In one embodiment, the shield 113 is configured to have one or moreholes to provide space for a locking mechanism 112 which is configuredto lock the plug 110 to the corresponding receptacle 103. In oneembodiment, the locking mechanism 112 comprises one or more keys whichare operable to be pressed for locking or unlocking the plug 110 withthe corresponding receptacle 103.

In one embodiment, the plug 110 further comprises a cable housing 117which houses electrical and optical transmission lines coupled to theI/O interfaces 115 and 116. In one embodiment, the cable housing 117couples a plug body 114 of the plug 110 to a processor 102 of FIG. 1A.In one embodiment, the plug body 114 is configured to provide a grip toengage and disengage the I/O interfaces 115 and 116 with thecorresponding receptacle 103. In one embodiment, the locking mechanism112 prevents the shield 113 from moving backwards towards the cablehousing 117.

FIG. 1C illustrates a cross-sectional view 120 of the cable housing 117,according to one embodiment of the invention. In one embodiment, thecable housing 117 is composed of a flexible material that providesprotection to the electrical and optical transmission lines in the cablehousing 117 and to also allow the cable housing 117 to bend withoutaffecting the transmission of the signals in the cable housing 117. Inone embodiment, the cable housing 117 includes a braid 127 and a kevlar128 in the inner circle of the cable housing 117 which immediatelysurrounds the cables in the cable housing 117. In one embodiment, thebraid 127 is configured to shield and/or attenuate electromagneticinterference (EMI). In one embodiment, the kevlar 128 is configured toabsorb stress on the cable housing 117 caused by pulling and/orstretching motions on the cable housing 117.

In one embodiment, the cable housing 117 includes unshielded twistedpair (UTP) electrical cables 122, shielded differential pair (SDP)electrical cables 121, power cable 125, ground cable 126, and a pair offiber optic cables 123 and 124 that are coupled to each lens unit of thepair of the lens units 111 respectively. In one embodiment, the fiberoptic cables 123 and 124 are covered by an insulating material 123A toprotect the fiber optic cables 123 and 124 from cracking or otherdamages from external means.

FIG. 1D illustrates a zoomed version 130 of a lens 132 of one of thelens units 111, according to one embodiment of the invention. In oneembodiment, the lens 132 is placed in position along an optical axis 133by a tapered outer covering or housing 131. In one embodiment, the taperhousing 131 has a taper surface which is configured to be inclinedtowards the lens 132 with a negative slope as the taper housing 131meets the lens 132 so that the lens 132 is operable to be aligned with acorresponding lens 426 or 427 of the receptacle 103 which is discussedin FIG. 5C.

Referring back to FIG. 1D, in one embodiment the taper housing 131 has ataper surface which is configured to have a positive slope as the taperend meets the lens 132 so that the lens 132 is operable to be alignedwith the corresponding lens 426 or 427 of the receptacle 103. In oneembodiment, the slope of the taper housing 131 is opposite (i.e.,different) from a slope of a corresponding taper housing of thecorresponding lens 426 or 427 of the receptacle 103. The term “opposite”herein refers to the angle of the slope in that a positive slope (risingslope) is of opposite (i.e., different) angle to a negative slope(falling slope).

In one embodiment, the lens 132 is a convex lens made from twoplano-convex lenses. In one embodiment, the material of the lens 132 iscomposed of Ultem. In other embodiments, other suitable material may beused to compose the lens 132. In one embodiment, the diameter of thelens 132 is 0.8 mm. In one embodiment, the lens has a clear aperture of0.65 mm.

In one embodiment the lens 132 is operable to move laterally along itsposition. In one embodiment, the lens 132 is operable to move laterallyby +/−200 μm along its position. In one embodiment, the lens 132 isoperable to move vertically along its position. In one embodiment, thelens 132 is operable to move vertically by +/−100 μm along its position.The vertical and lateral movements of the lens 132 along its positionallow the lens 132 to align its optical axis 133 with respect to anoptical axis of the corresponding lenses 426 or 427 of the receptacle103.

In one embodiment, the lens 132 is operable to move backwards along withits taper housing 131 by 1 mm. The backward movement of the lens 132 isin the direction toward the cable housing 117. In one embodiment, thelens 132 is operable to move backwards towards the cable housing 117 toallow the lens 132 to align with the corresponding lenses 426 or 427 ofthe receptacle 103 by engaging its taper housing 131 with acorresponding taper housing of the receptacle 103. In one embodiment,each lens unit of the pair 111 comprising the lens 132 is held inposition within the taper housing 131 by a set of springs which arediscussed later with reference to FIG. 3. In one embodiment, each lensunit of the pair of lens units 111 includes a hole (not shown) at theback of the lens unit to position the fiber optic cables 123 and 124 tothe corresponding lens unit of the pair of lens units 111.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view 200 of the plug 110 with a lockingmechanism, according to one embodiment of the invention. As discussedabove with reference to FIG. 1B, in one embodiment the locking mechanism112 comprises one or more keys 112 a. The one or more keys 112 a allowthe plug 110 to engage or to disengage with the receptacle 103. In oneembodiment, the keys 112 a are pressable keys with springs.

The term “engage” herein refers to physically and electricallyconnecting the plug 110 with the corresponding receptacle 103. The term“disengage” herein refers to physically and electrically disconnectingthe plug 110 from the corresponding receptacle 103.

In one embodiment, to engage the plug 110 with the receptacle 103, thekeys 112 a are pressed down to allow the plug 110 to connect with thereceptacle 103 and then the keys 112 a are released to lock the plug 110with the receptacle 103. In one embodiment, to disengage the plug 110,the keys 112 a are pressed down to allow the plug 110 to move freelyaway from the receptacle 103 and then the keys 112 a are released tokeep the shield 113 from moving towards the cable housing 117.

In one embodiment, when the plug 110 is disengaged from the receptacle103, the keys 112 a prevent the shield 113 from moving backwards towardsthe cable housing 117. In one embodiment, the keys 112 a are operable tobe pressed to unlock the shield 113 from the receptacle 103 and to allowthe shield 113 to move freely along a predetermined distance in thedirection of the cable housing 117. In one embodiment, the keys 112 aare operable to be released to lock the shield 113 with the receptacle103 and to prevent the shield 113 from moving freely along thepredetermined distance.

In one embodiment, when the plug 110 is engaged with the receptacle 103,the keys 112 a hold the plug 110 electrically and optically connectedwith the electrical and optical interface of the receptacle 103.

FIG. 3 illustrates a view 300 of the hybrid cables inside the cablehousing 117, according to one embodiment of the invention. In oneembodiment, the hybrid cables comprise electrical and opticaltransmission lines discussed above with reference to FIG. 1C. The term“hybrid cables” herein refers to cables comprising of electrical cables121, 122, 125, and 126, and fiber optic cables 123 and 124. In oneembodiment, each lens unit of the pair of lens units 111 is held andmaintained in position on either side of the I/O interface 115 by a pairof springs 301. In one embodiment, the pair of springs 301 provides thenecessary tension to each lens unit of the pair of lens units 111 sothat the lenses of the lens units 111 remain aligned across theiroptical axes 133 even when the plug 110 is tampered with.

FIG. 4 illustrates the components 400 of the receptacle 103 to receivethe plug 110, according to one embodiment of the invention. In oneembodiment, the receptacle 103 includes a receptacle housing 404 tohouse an optical transceiver 402 and transceiver contacts 403. In oneembodiment, the transceiver contacts 403 are electrical contacts thatcouple to electrical contacts (412 of FIG. 5A) on the opticaltransceiver 402. In one embodiment, the optical transceiver 402 includesa pair of lens units 410 and 411 that are configured so that each lensunit (410 and 411) of the pair resides on either side of an I/Ointerface 408. In one embodiment, each lens unit (410 and 411) of thepair is separated by a distance which is equal to the distance ofseparation between the corresponding lens units of the pair 111 of theplug 110.

FIG. 5A illustrates a zoomed version of the optical transceiver 402 ofthe receptacle 103, according to one embodiment of the invention. Thezoomed version of FIG. 5A is a bottom up view of the optical transceiver402 of FIG. 4, according to one embodiment of the invention. In oneembodiment, the optical transceiver 402 includes a lens body 413 havingthe pair of lens units (410 and 411) with lenses 415 and 416. Each lensunit (410 and 411) of the pair is either operable to transmit an opticalsignal or to receive an optical signal.

In one embodiment, the optical signal received or transmitted by thepair of lens units (410 and 411) is guided to photo-diodes and/or laserdiodes via a light reflection mechanism (shown in FIG. 5B) inside thelens body. In one embodiment, each lens unit has a corresponding lightreflection mechanism.

FIG. 5B illustrates a view of the lens body 413 of the opticaltransceiver 402 with an outside view of a reflection mechanism,according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 5B is discussed withreference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 5A. The reflection mechanism shown in FIG.5B represents the outer surface 417 of the reflection mechanism. Theinner surface (not shown) that receives an optical signal has areflective surface which is configured in the same way (i.e. same angle)as the outer surface 417 of the reflection mechanism. In one embodiment,the reflection mechanism reflects (via the inner surface) the opticalsignal by 90 degrees so that the optical signal is guided from the lensunit (410 or 411) to a photo-diode. In one embodiment, the lightreflection mechanism reflects the optical signal by 90 degrees so thatthe optical signal is guided from the laser unit to the lens unit (410or 411). In one embodiment, the light reflection mechanism comprises areflecting surface positioned inside the lens body 413 at an angle of 45degrees (along a 90 degree bend in the lens unit 413) to reflect opticalsignals by 90 degrees. In one embodiment, the lens body 413 isconfigured to reside on a substrate having electrical contacts 412.

FIG. 5C illustrates components 420 of the optical transceiver 402 of thereceptacle 103, according to one embodiment of the invention. In oneembodiment, the lens 415 of the lens body 413 is operable to focus lightto a photo-diode 423 that resides on the substrate 414. In oneembodiment, the lens 415 of the lens body 413 is operable to collimatelight from a laser diode 424 that resides on the substrate 414. In oneembodiment, the contacts/pads 425 on the substrate 414 includeelectrical pads to provide power supply to the laser diode 424 and tothe photo-diode 423. In one embodiment, the contacts/pads 425 alsoinclude electrical pads to send and receive electrical signals to theperipheral device 104 of FIG. 1 via the photo-diode 423 and the laserdiode 424.

In one embodiment, the lenses 415 and 416 of the receptacle 103 arehoused by a taper housing 428 which is similar to the taper housing 131of the lens units 111 of the plug 110. In one embodiment, the taperhousing 428 has a taper surface which is configured to have an oppositeslope than the taper housing 131 of the plug 110 of FIG. 1D. In oneembodiment, the taper surface of the taper housing 428 is configured tohave a positive slope as the taper end of the taper housing 428 meetsthe lenses 415 and/or 416 so that the lenses 415 and/or 416 are operableto be aligned (along their respective optical axes) with thecorresponding lenses (e.g., 132) of the plug 110.

In one embodiment, the lens units 111 of the plug 110 and thecorresponding lens units 410/411 of the receptacle 103 are physicallyheld and maintained in position during engagement of the plug 110 andthe receptacle 103 via the taper housing 428 of the receptacle 103 andthe taper housing 131 of the plug 110—the opposite slopes of the tapersurfaces of the taper housings 131 and 428 lock the corresponding lensesof the plug 110 and the receptacle 103 with one another duringengagement.

In one embodiment, the optical transceiver 402 includes one or moreintegrated circuits (ICs) 421 and 422 to process the optical signalsfrom the photo-diode 423 and the laser diode 424. In one embodiment, thelaser diode 424 is operable to convert electrical signals from the IC422 to photons which are then transmitted to the corresponding lens 416via the reflection mechanism (discussed with reference to FIG. 5B). Inone embodiment, the photo-diode 423 is operable to convert photons to anelectrical signal which is then transmitted to the IC 421 forprocessing. In one embodiment, the IC 422 includes an amplifier to drivethe electrical signal via the laser diode 424 to the lens 416. In oneembodiment, the ICs 421 and 422 are integrated on a single IC. In oneembodiment, each lens unit of the pair of lens units 410 and 411 includea hole to couple the lenses 415 and 416 to an optical waveguide.

Referring back to FIG. 4, in one embodiment the receptacle 103 alsoincludes a sheet cover or housing 401 to cover the receptacle housing404 and to protect the components inside the receptacle housing 404 fromany external hazard (external to the receptacle housing 404). In oneembodiment, the sheet cover or housing 401 is configured to have one ormore holes on the sides of the sheet cover or housing 401 which areoperable to lock with the receptacle housing 404 via one or more keys407 on either side of the receptacle housing 404. In one embodiment, theone or more keys 407 are pressable keys in that when the keys arepressed, the sheet cover or housing 401 can be removed from thereceptacle housing 404. In one embodiment, the one or more keys 407 arepressed to align the sheet cover or housing 401 on the receptaclehousing 404 and then the one or more keys 407 are released to lock thesheet cover or housing 401 to the receptacle housing 404.

In one embodiment, the receptacle 103 resides on a motherboard 405 orany other substrate. In one embodiment, the receptacle 103 includes ashield 406 that covers one or more I/O interfaces 408 and/or 409 thatcorrespond to the I/O interfaces 115 and 116 of the plug 110respectively. In one embodiment, the I/O interfaces 408 and 409 are USB2and USB3 (receiving end) I/O interfaces respectively of a USB micro-Bconnector.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method flowchart 600, according to one embodimentof the invention. The flowchart 600 is described with reference to FIGS.1-5. At block 601, a pair of lens units 111 is positioned on eithersides of the USB2 I/O interface of the USB micro-B connector plug 110.At block 602, the lenses of the lens units 111 are aligned along theirrespective optical axes 133. At block 603, a pair of lens units 410 and411 is positioned in an optical transceiver of the receptacles 103 ofthe USB micro-B connector. At block 604, the lenses of the lens units410 and 411 are aligned along their respective optical axes. In oneembodiment, the optical axes 133 of the lens units 111 is the same asthe optical axes for the lens units 410/411.

At block 605, the plug 110 is engaged with the receptacle 103 via theone or more keys 112 a of the plug 110. At block 606, optical and/orelectrical signals are transmitted and received between the plug 110 andthe receptacle 103.

Embodiments of the invention (e.g., the method FIG. 6) can also beimplemented by executing computer executable instructions stored on amachine-readable storage medium. The machine-readable storage medium mayinclude, but is not limited to, flash memory, optical disks, CD-ROMs,DVD ROMs, RAMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or optical cards, or any othertype of machine-readable storage media suitable for storing electronicor computer-executable instructions. For example, embodiments of theinvention may be downloaded as a computer program which may betransferred from a remote computer (e.g., a server) to a requestingcomputer (e.g., a client) by way of data signals via a communicationlink (e.g., a modem or network connection).

Reference in the specification to “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,”“some embodiments,” or “other embodiments” means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but notnecessarily all embodiments. The various appearances of “an embodiment,”“one embodiment,” or “some embodiments” are not necessarily allreferring to the same embodiments. If the specification states acomponent, feature, structure, or characteristic “may,” “might,” or“could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, orcharacteristic is not required to be included. If the specification orclaim refers to “a” or “an” element, that does not mean there is onlyone of the element. If the specification or claims refer to “anadditional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one ofthe additional element.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with specificembodiments thereof, many alternatives, modifications and variations ofsuch embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artin light of the foregoing description. The embodiments of the inventionare intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, andvariations as to fall within the broad scope of the appended claims.

1. An apparatus comprising: a first pair of lens units, each lens unitof the pair positioned on either side of an input-output (I/O) businterface, the pair of lens units to send and receive optical signalsrespectively; a first housing to shield the first pair of lens units andfor physically coupling the I/O bus interface and the first pair of lensunits to a receptacle; and a key to grasp the first housing and to lockthe first housing with the receptacle.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the I/O bus interface is a Universal Serial Bus 2 (USB2) I/Ointerface.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the USB2 interfaceresides physically next to a USB3 I/O interface.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 2, further comprising a second housing coupled to the firsthousing, the second housing to couple the USB2 and the USB3 I/Ointerfaces to a cable having an electrical transmission line and anoptical waveguide.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the USB2 and theUSB3 I/O interfaces have electrical contacts that are configured to bebackward compatible with a USB micro-B connector.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein each lens unit of the first pair of lens unitscomprises: a lens; a spring to maintain a position of the lens relativeto an optical axis of the lens; a first taper housing to house the lensand for locking the lens with a corresponding lens of the receptacle;and a hole to couple the lens with an optical waveguide interface. 7.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the key is operable to be pressed tounlock the first housing to allow it to move freely along apredetermined distance, and wherein the key is further operable to bereleased to lock the first housing with the receptacle and to preventthe first housing from moving freely along the predetermined distance.8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the receptacle comprises: an I/Obus interface having electrical contacts; an optical transceiver to sendand receive optical signals; and a third housing to maintain a positionof the optical transceiver and the electrical contacts of the I/O businterface.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the optical transceivercomprises: a second pair of lens units, each lens unit of the secondpair of lens units separated from one another by a distance equal to adistance of separation between the lens units of the first pair of lensunits; a photodiode coupled to one of the lens units of the second pairof the lens units, the photodiode to convert photons to an electricalsignal; and a laser diode coupled to the other lens units of the secondpair of the lens units, the laser diode to convert an electrical signalto photons.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each lens unit of thesecond pair of lens units comprises: a lens; a second taper housing tohouse the lens and for locking the lens with a corresponding lens of thefirst pair of lens units, wherein the second taper housing has a secondtaper angle which is different from a first taper angle of the firsttaper housing; and a hole to couple the lens to an optical waveguideinterface.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the optical transceiverfurther comprises an integrated circuit to drive the laser diode and toconvert the electrical signal from the photodiode to an electricalcurrent or voltage.
 12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the I/O businterface of the receptacle is a Universal Serial Bus 2 (USB2) I/Ointerface.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the USB2 I/O interfaceof the receptacle resides physically next to a USB3 I/O interface of thereceptacle.
 14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the receptacle furthercomprises a fourth housing to cover the third housing and to lock inposition with the third housing via a key of the third housing.
 15. Asystem comprising: a receptacle; and a plug to couple to the receptacle,the plug comprising: a first pair of lens units, each lens unit of thepair positioned on either side of an input-output (I/O) bus interface,the pair of lens units to send and receive optical signals respectively;a first housing to shield the first pair of lens units and forphysically coupling the I/O bus interface and the first pair of lensunits to the receptacle; and a key to grasp the first housing and tolock the first housing with the receptacle.
 16. The system of claim 15,wherein the I/O bus interface is a Universal Serial Bus 2 (USB2) I/Ointerface which resides physically next to a USB3 I/O interface.
 17. Thesystem of claim 16, wherein the USB2 and the USB3 I/O interfaces includeelectrical contacts that are configured to be backward compatible with aUSB micro-B connector.
 18. The system of claim 15, wherein each lensunit of the first pair of lens units comprises: a lens; a spring tomaintain a position of the lens relative to an optical axis of the lens;a first taper housing to house the lens and for locking the lens with acorresponding lens of the receptacle; and a hole to couple the lens withan optical waveguide interface.
 19. The system of claim 15, wherein thereceptacle comprises: an I/O bus interface having electrical contacts;an optical transceiver to send and receive optical signals; and a thirdhousing to maintain a position of the optical transceiver and theelectrical contacts of the I/O bus interface.
 20. The system of claim19, wherein the optical transceiver comprises: a second pair of lensunits, each lens unit of the second pair of lens units separated fromone another by a distance equal to a distance of separation between thelens units of the first pair of lens units; a photodiode coupled to oneof the lens units of the second pair of the lens units, the photodiodeto convert photons to an electrical signal; and a laser diode coupled tothe other lens unit of the second pair of the lens units, the laserdiode to convert an electrical signal to photons.